Sunscreens with Light SPF Short Reviews

I've been trying out various high end sunscreens on the lower range of SPF lately. All of the following sunscreens were tested alone on bare, clean skin, without any makeup applied over it for honest results. I won't go into too many details and just let you in on my personal thoughts or experiences. I didn't really go into what the product is supposed to accomplish to keep things short--if you like, you can read some of the specs on the product websites below.

If this post was helpful, please let me know what kind of short reviews you'd like to see in the future. I might write one on drugstore sunscreens with high SPF or light SPF, haven't decided yet!

My skin type: normal-dehydrated combination, T-zone prone to comedogenic acne, cheeks prone to hormonal acne and clogged pores, as well as the nose
Current Climate: warm to hot, sunny, little to no humidity



Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion SPF 20 - 1.35 oz for $42

Very light and fluid, easy to spread. Texture is very smooth, a little goes a long way on the skin. I'm reminded of Giorgio Armani's Face Fabric Foundation in terms of how light and silky this lotion is. Skin develops a slight shine but not much oiliness. Absorbed completely and quickly into the skin. Scent is light and pleasant.
The product claims to "eliminate excess oil and clogged pores" via yeast extract which helps with turning over dead skin cells as well as other various antioxidants. I didn't notice any particular improvement in the look of my skin, but I liked how it helped to mattify and smooth the skin a bit, due to the ingredient dimethicone (basically silicon, used in most makeup primers). Might be ideal for those who have normal to combination skin or oily skin and desire the "no sunscreen" feeling. Not sure about the oil controlling properties for people who have oily skin concerns.

Ingredients as taken from Sephora website:
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Water/Eau, Glycerin, C12-14 Pareth-12, Butylene Glycol, Punica Granatum Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Root Extract, Sorbitol, Squalane, Yeast Extract/Extrait de Levura, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract, Glucosamine HCl, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben.


Boscia Oil-Free Daily Hydration SPF 15 - 0.5 oz for $12, 1 oz for $27

I thought the consistency of this was thicker than expected for a low SPF moisturizer. When first squeezed out it actually seemed a bit intimidating because it slightly clung to my fingers in strands like mucus, or egg whites. It also feels like a moisturizer mixed with serum in terms of consistency. However, it spreads decently on the skin (not as well as Cosmedicine). It doesn't have much of a scent. Unlike the Cosmedicine, this does not absorb completely--I can clearly feel it sitting on my skin throughout the day, but not in a greasy, sticky, or oily way. It's almost as if it creates a barrier of water and feels very hydrating. I recommend this product to those with dry to normal skin in drier climates, since it did not really prevent oiliness.

Ingredients as taken from Sephora website:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Leaf Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/leaf/stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Bishydroxyethyl Biscetyl Malonamide, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sclerotium Gum, Aluminum Hydroxide, Potassium Phosphate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide.



Lancome Primordiale Skin Recharge Visibly Smoothing and Renewing Moisturizer SPF 15 - 1.7 oz for $65

The consistency of this sunscreen seems to be infused with water but doesn't have any stickiness or clinginess on the fingers. Otherwise, it actually reminds me a lot of the previous Boscia sunscreen. It creates a similar hydrating "barrier of water" on the skin that isn't oily or sticky, but you need more product with each application since it is less easy to spread. I don't experience much oiliness on the T-zone with this product, my skin just feels very hydrated. However, the difference between the Boscia sunscreen and this one is that this has a definite plumping, tightening effect on the skin so it is better for mature skin. Also, it has a light fragrance. I would only recommend this product to people with normal to drier skin. This product also claims to supposedly help with cell turnover but I have not noticed it helping with decreasing clogged or large pores.

Sorry, I don't have ingredients for this product but will post them if I find them.



Mario Badescu Aloe Moisturizer SPF 15 - 2 oz for $22

This sunscreen feels very creamy and nourishing on the skin. The color is interesting--it looks like the green in mint chocolate chip ice cream. It has a thick, cream-like consistency but feels more like a night-time moisturizer than a daytime moisturizer. It does not have any scent and blends very easily on the skin with just a little product. However, it never absorbed and my skin felt oily from the time of application to when I washed it off. I would only recommend it to those with dry skin in arid climates.

Ingredients as taken from the Mario Badescu website:
Deionized Water, Parsol MCX, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Polyglycerylmethacrylate, Aloe Vera Gel, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Squalane, Myristyl Lactate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Ceteareth-20, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea




Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Creme SPF 15 - 1 oz for $70

This cream is formulated especially for mid-life skin and helps to make it tighter and less dull. The texture and consistency of this sunscreen is very smooth and it feels exactly like a night cream--in fact, I even got confused and thought it was my night cream for a couple days. It has a warm beige color but has a pretty heavy perfumey fragrance that I actually don't really like. It looks and feels heavy in the jar, but isn't gloppy or overly thick if you just glide your fingers over it to apply rather than scooping it out, kind of like a cream eye shadow. I love how buttery smooth and soothing it feels going onto the skin, but unfortunately it doesn't absorb completely on my combination skin. The Estee Lauder site specifies this sunscreen is only for dry skins and they also have a very dry skin formulation. I definitely recommend this for dry skin, but even so it's probably not the best thing to use in the summer because it doesn't have any oil controlling properties--save it for winter instead.



Estee Lauder DayWear Plus Multi Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15 - 1.7 oz for $38.50

This sunscreen feels sort of like a gel creme--in the jar, the consistency seems more watery and jelly-like compared to the other sunscreens, but it smoothes over the skin with the texture of a cream. You only need to use a little bit with each application, so be careful not to over-apply lest you experience the oilies. I didn't get too oily with this sunscreen, but I don't think it has any oil controlling properties. It also provides a hydrating barrier effect on the skin but less so than the Boscia and Lancome Primordiale since this sunscreen is creamier and the other two feel more like a serum. I recommend this to people with normal to combination skin. It has a fresh scent that reminds me of cucumbers. Contains anti-oxidant ingredients like white tea, South African Red Tea, grape seed extract, and Vitamins C and E.

Active Ingredients:
Octinoxate 7.50%, Octisalate 5.00%, Avobenzone 2.00%.

Korres Wild Rose 24 Hour Moisturizing and Brightening Cream SPF 6 - 1.4 oz for $32.50
(also available at Korres.com)

This moisturizer doesn't have enough SPF for me to even recommend using it as your only sun protection from the sun, but I would definitely recommend using it in place of a daytime moisturizer under your sunscreen. It has a light feel but is very creamy at the same time. You only need to use a little bit for it to go a long way on the skin. Dry skinned girls can apply it with a heavier hand, but if you have oily or combination skin, I would be very careful not to over apply. It dries to a matte finish but still feels very hydrating. I can see this product being very effective if mixed with foundation, but I do not see any special brightening or healing properties. I also do not like the scent of this cream. Rather than smelling like fresh roses it smells like potpourri, which kind of reminds me of old grannies--not something a 20-something year old wants to smell like, haha.

Ingredients:
Aqua (water), C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Glycerin, Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pentylene Glycol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Myristyl Esters, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Olea Europea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Alumina, Aluminum Stearate, Arginine, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhezylglycerin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Isodecyl Salicylate, Parfum (Fragrance), PEG-8, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Phenoxyethanol, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum

Estee Lauder Hydra Bright Skin-Tone Perfecting Moisturizer Creme

With the 90+ degrees weather Southern California has been receiving in the past couple of weeks, my skin has been needing a break from my usual assortment of heavy nighttime moisturizers and creams. Thus, I've been using Estee Lauder's Hydra Bright Skin-Tone Perfecting Moisturizer Creme to give my skin a break every few nights. It comes in a 1.7 oz jar with two types (one for dry and one for normal-combination skin) and retails for $40. You can purchase this at the Estee Lauder website or any department stores that carry Estee Lauder. I have been using the one for normal-combination skin.

When I first started using Hydra Bright, I didn't have very high expectations. I thought that this would be like any other moisturizer that I've tried in the past. However, at first glance, the consistency of this white cream seemed unique. It's a cross between a gel and a cream (a gel-cream, if you will) and felt very light and pillowy to the touch. The fragrance does not bother me, and I even thought it smelled slightly like bananas, though I'm sure that was not Estee Lauder's intention. Unlike most gel moisturizers, this cream requires more product to spread evenly and thoroughly over the face, so I've gone through the tub pretty quickly. After applying it to the skin, it feels very hydrated but non-greasy or slippery.

Estee Lauder claims that this "ultra hydrating moisturizer banishes first signs of aging uneven skintone, dullness, and fine dry lines." The ingredients in the moisturizer like the hydrating "Encapsulated Moisture Cells" have also been broken down "to the molecular structure so skin can asborb it more easily." You are supposed to use it both day time and night time before the repair serum. I actually only use this product at night because it doesn't dry matte or non-sticky, so it's not a good product to use underneath your daily sunscreen. (However, Estee Lauder's Hydra Bright Collection contains a SPF 15 Moisturizer so I would assume it'd be better underneath sunscreen, though I personally have not tried it.)

What I really like about this moisturizer is that it actually does live up to its name and really brightens the skin. Within half an hour of application, my skin looked much more radiant and bright. The effect was different than what I've experienced with other moisturizers like Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer--which instead made my skin look more healthy as if it were glowing from within. My skintone also looked more even and light. The only complaint I have is that the brightening effect didn't seem to last for 24 hours (I only use it during night). This brings me back to my earlier point--perhaps it is necessary to apply this during the morning as well to achieve that brightening effect. For this reason, I'm not positive this product is a must have for skin brightening, but I think it's great to keep on hand if your skin needs a quick fix, especially for special occasions, as the results are quite immediate.

Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, DI-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Petrolatum, Butyrosperumum Parkii (Shea Butter), Steareth-21, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Morus Nigra (Mulberry) Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Coffea Robusta Seed Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Opuntia Tuna Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Flower Extract, Sea Salt/Maris Sal/Sel Marin, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter, Fish (Pisces) Collagen, Sucrose, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Acetyl Glucosamine, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Phytantriol, Yest Extract/Faex/Extrait de levure, SOdium DNA, Isohexadecane, Caffeine, Cholesterol, Phenyl Methicone, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Capryuc/Capric Triglyceride, Stearoxytimethylsilane, C30-45 Olefin, Polysorbate 80, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Acetyl Carnitine HCL, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Linoleic Acid, Terhalose, Linolenic Acid, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Carbomer, Sodium Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol

Product Updates - Skinfood Mushroom Multicare BB Cream SPF 20, Estee Lauder Idealist Refinisher

Every so often, I will do a review on the products I've already reviewed before if there's been any changes. Since our skin can change with the seasons, or whatever products we use, this will help you make an informed decision.

- - -

Remember when I reviewed the Skinfood BB Creams awhile back?

If you read my entry, you'll remember I didn't like the Skinfood BB Cream at all. The color spheres didn't spread out on my skin...they sat on top of my dry patches, they creased and gathered in certain spots, and the product wouldn't mix very well with moisturizer. The bb cream just looked gross. I was ready to throw it out--but I didn't.

Well, as I've been taking care of my skin more lately--drinking tons of fluids, cleansing and toning properly, moisturizing, and using Estee Lauder's Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher, my oily/dry combination skin has improved so much! My skin is regulated and balanced now. My forehead and nose actually DON'T get oily after washing. For the first time, I can wear thicker moisturizers on my T-zone and chin! This is very exciting.

Well, now that my skin has improved, and my skin type has moved into the "normal" category, I started reaching for the Skinfood BB Cream again. And I must say, having good skin makes all the difference with how makeup will turn out. I've been applying the Skinfood bb cream around my nose and under my eyes to reduce darkness, on my chin, and I am not seeing the spheres settle or oxidize anywhere! And since my skin doesn't get oily anymore, the color stays in place all day.

So, once again, I have to rave about Estee Lauder's Idealist. If you have combination or oily skin, I highly recommend you try out this product. You might not like it at first--since it does have this sort of silicon/primer texture to it, your skin will feel slippery and oily to the touch after application. This just means that the product is doing its work, and penetrating your pores to get the oil out. If you experience this discomfort, I suggest you start by using this product as part of your night time skincare regimen. Wear it to sleep alone, and if you need more moisture, apply some cream on top. Make sure you cleanse and tone thoroughly so the Idealist can absorb better into your skin. If you see results, then you can work your way to also using it during the day under your makeup, so you maximize its efficacy. If you exfoliate your skin regularly, it's great to use this product, since it aids in improving skin texture and cell turnover by eliminating the dead skin.

As for the Skinfood Mushroom BB Cream, I would only recommend this to ladies who have normal or dry skin types. However, don't use it if you have flakey dry skin as it will cling to all your dry patches. As always, make sure to wear your regular sunscreen, primer, or both underneath to give the bb cream a smooth canvas. This way, your skin will look more natural and flawless.

I received the Clarisonic brush last Tuesday, so I'll be updating on that in a couple of days. I intend to give you readers weekly updates on that, so stay tuned!

Tubing Mascaras: Imju Fiberwig vs. Blinc Kiss Me, Clinique Lash Power, Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening

Imju Fiberwig has replaced Blinc Kiss Me as the top selling mascara in Japan. It advertises "paint on false eyelashes" to tout its lengthening effect. Like the typical fiber based mascaras on the market (think Magic Lash--Pursebuzz does a great review), Imju Fiberwig also contains fibers that attach to your lashes with each stroke. As a result, Fiberwig is like a fiber based primer and mascara in one.
In addition, Fiberwig promises to be water-oil-sweat resistant, and thereby, smudge proof. It is easily removed with warm water (no soap necessary, like with Clinique Lash Power). Much like Blinc Kiss Me, the mascara wraps around your lash to form tubes, rather than merely depositing pigment like most mascaras.

I've been using this mascara for about a month now. As I pointed out in my Blinc Kiss Me mascara review, I have trouble finding mascara that doesn't smudge underneath my eyes. I hopped onto the fiber/tubing mascara band wagon with excitement. While Blinc definitely held up to its promise of not smudging, it wasn't perfect. The mascara clumped on my thin, sparse lashes, creating spikes. My lashes looked as they were stuck to each other in little sections. Thus, Blinc isn't dependable for perfectly separated, long lashes...it's a bit of a gamble every time use it, I reach for it hoping that it'll distribute evenly. Since the wand deposits too much product on my lashes, they also end up feeling hard and spiky. Not like this is a huge problem, since I don't go around touching my eyelashes, but this makes them actually harder to curl since they're weighed down with product (I have stick straight short lashes).

So, I was a bit skeptical trying the Imju Fiberwig. When I opened the tube, the first thing I noticed was how HUGE the brush was. It reminded me of Benefit's Badgal, which also has a huge, plump brush. The photo in the picture above doesn't really show you how dense the wand is. The wand itself looks denser because of all the fibers it picks up when you take it out of the tube. (I would take a photo, but my camera is broken...incase you're wondering why I haven't shown any pictures so far!)

Despite the big size of the brush, I was still able to get to the base of my eyelashes and brush the mascara very nicely from base to tip. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my lashes did not clump at all. If there was the slightest bit of excessive product, a couple more swipes of mascara and I was able to brush the clumps away. No matter how many coats of mascara I put on my lashes, this stuff NEVER got clumpy. I kept adding on many, many coats so the fibers would continue to lengthen my lashes. I didn't count, but I wouldn't be surprised if I applied about 2 0 coats. My lashes were always perfectly separated and defined. I also liked how they felt flexible to the touch, never brittle, after the mascara dried. My lashes are so straight that I have to curl them AFTER I apply mascara (I know this is a taboo, but my lashes do not curl otherwise). The Fiberwig held the curl, while Blinc did not.
Also, speaking of drying, this mascara dries very quickly...and I mean, like in 7 seconds. This is probably because it's more liquidy than Blinc, which is somewhat thicker. So, I apply this mascara to my lashes in sections, working on the inner corner and middle section until I ge t my desired length and thickness, and then the outer corner. You have to reapply the coats when the mascara is wet, just like with Blinc, or the mascara will not go on smoothly. The difference with Blinc is that Blinc takes a lot longer to dry. This was a source of frustration for me because I would blink when my Blinc wasn't dry yet, and have to wet a cotton swab to get the mascara off my under eyes. With Fiberwig, that doesn't happen, thankfully.

Like all the tubing mascaras, Imju Fiberwig came off with warm water and my r egular cleanser. I didn't have to rub my eyes with makeup remover. Also, the fibers in mascara didn't get in my eyes, nor did the mascara sting my eyes, so Fiberwig should be perfectly safe for contacts wearers. I've heard that Magic Lash can get messy with all the fibers, so definitely look to this mascara as an alternative. The fibers never flaked off or smudged onto my face either, so Fiberwig definitely has equally amazing staying power as Blinc.

OK, so you're thinking, there has to be something bad about it. Yes, my only complaint is that Fiberwig does not get your eyelashes anywhere near "false eyelash long." Maybe there's a trick to applying the mascara that I haven't discovered yet? I've resorted to rotating the mascara wand as I stroke it from base to tip--my own manual Spin Lash, haha--but the results are yet to be seen! Though I'm not terribly bothered by this since I never expected my lashes to magically morph into false lash length in the first place....but I'll keep trying and let you guys know later if I was successful.

Now, this mascara worked for me, but it might not work for you. My lashes are short, sparse, and stick straight. I have no idea how well this mascara would work on people who have full, lush lashes already. This mascara costs $22 at Sephora (the only place you can buy it in the US, perhaps Little Tokyo or K-town might carry them though? I've never looked there) and only comes in black. Definitely try Blinc and Fiberwig both at the store before you purchase if you can't decide. If anyone is interested, I could organize a Fiberwig haul from Asia at a lower cost and have it shipped to you. If I get enough emails or comments I'll look into it.

Now, there are two other alternatives that I know of, if you've tried both Blinc and Fiberwig. Clinique Lash Power Mascara uses similar tubing technology and vows to stay put for 24 hours without flaking, smearing, smudging, and removes with warm water. What attracted me to trying this mascara was the tiny little brush, which reminded me of Maybelline's Lash Discovery. I think Lash Discovery is discontinued now except in the waterproof version...which is unfortunate.

You can't really tell how tiny the brush is in the picture, but trust me, it's tiny!



Pursebuzz has a great video reviewing Clinique Lash Power Mascara, in which she shows you the comparison with Lash Discovery in the beginning. Though she highly recommends the product, I do not recommend it.
I tried this product twice--once at Nordstrom's, the second time at Macy's. The first time was around August 2008, the product worked great on me--no flaking, smudging, my lashes were defined and separated perfectly. I thought I was going to replace Blinc with the Clinique. The second time was around a month and a half ago, and this time, the mascara flaked all over my undereyes! There might have been a little smearing going on. I notice the reviews for this mascara are quite mixed, so again, try the mascara before you buy it. At $14.00 a pop, it is cheaper than all the other tubing mascaras, but don't make your decision based on price alone. Since I have oilier lids than most people, I can definitely attest to how effective a mascara's staying power is..and Lash Power just doesn't cut it.

Estee Lauder's Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara comes in second place for cheapest tubing/polymer mascara, at $19.50. In contrast to Clinique's Lash Power which claims 24 hour staying power, Zero Smudge claims it stays put for 15 hours. However, it also is only removable with warm water, so you do NOT remove it with eye makeup remover.

Like Clinique Lash Power, I only tried this mascara twice. It came in one of those free gifts with purchase--concealer on one end, and mascara on the other. The double ended feature compelled me to immediately stash it in my makeup bag--who doesn't love convenience? The first time I tried the mascara, I was wary because the wand was definitely bigger than Lash Power's, so I thought it might clump. However, it also didn't clump my lashes at all--it defined them perfectly and stayed on all day! The second time I used this mascara was when I stayed overnight at a friend's and was putting on my makeup the next morning. Later that day, when I looked in the mirror, I saw that the mascara had smeared underneath my eyes. I was extremely disappointed. So in terms of effectiveness and price, this mascara is the worst out of the three. Whereas the Clinique mascara merely FLAKED, this one actually SMEARED, which shows that something is amiss in its polymer formula. I do NOT recommend Estee Lauder's Double Wear Zero-Smudge mascara.

So ultimately, the only mascara that gets my complete stamp of approval is Imju Fiberwig Mascara. Blinc Kiss Me Mascara I also like, but not love. Fiberwig has made it into my list of holy grail makeup items and I will definitely repurchase it when I run out.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex

Continuing my obsession with skincare, I purchased this recently, along with my Estee Lauder Idealist, to improve my congested and flakey skin.

As a gal in my 20s, my sleeping schedule is hectic--if I'm not up studying, I'm staying out late anyway. Sadly, if I don't get at least 7-8 hours of sleep, my skin will break out. My mom is always telling me to sleep more since that is when your body repairs/detoxifies itself. However, being young, I don't listen to her nagging! Yet, I'm already worrying about preventing wrinkles. What a predicament, huh?

This product seemed like a solution. It claims to visibly repair and prevent such wear and tear on the skin as you sleep. It also doubles as an "anti-aging serum." Evidently, the results are so amazing, the product has been patented! Straight from the product website, Estee Lauder claims it:

• Helps skin repair its appearance from daily environmental damage to recover a younger look.
• Heightens skin's natural repair response-critical for its well-being.
• Soothes daily irritation and builds a rich reserve of anti-oxidants and lipids.
• Neutralizes up to 90% of environmentally generated free radicals before they can affect skin's appearance.
• Studies show it is this environmental damage-not time-that can cause 80% of the visible signs of aging.
• Delivers high levels of long-proven hyaluronic acid, nature's "moisture magnet."
• Locks in moisture to create the ideal environment for healthy skin.

(credit: Estee Lauder)

Like Estee Lauder's Idealist which I previously reviewed, the Night Repair Complex also works to improve the skin's overall health, but the Idealist is for daytime wear. I've actually worn Idealist alone to bed, to maximize its efficacy (I don't see how effective skincare products can be when you pile makeup on top, plus pollution, dirt, and oil throughout the day.) The product description at Macys.com says that this product is actually also designed for application during the daytime and you can wear it under makeup. However, like with the Idealist Skin Refinisher, I would suggest only applying Night Repair Complex at night time before bed unless your skin is extremely damaged (i.e. sunburn, windburn, etc.). This way you maximize the product's use and longevity, and it is quite pricey at $46.50 an ounce.

I started using the Night Repair Complex when my skin was extremely dry and flakey but also breaking out. The bottle has a syringe on the cap so you can carefully place the drops on your skin and choose how much to use at a time. Each drop goes a long way--I needed one drop per cheek, a drop for my forehead, and another for my nose and chin area. The product feels like a typical liquid serum--it's mostly a gel-like liquid, rather than a light lotion. There isn't a "fragrance," but the serum does have some kind of scent/odor, but it isn't unpleasant. After cleansing and toning, I applied this carefully with light pressure. My skin felt a bit sticky after the serum sank in, but all gel-liquid serums tend to leave behind this sensation, so I wasn't bothered by it. You can apply moisturizer on top, but I chose not to since I was worried additional product would diminish its healing properties.

The next morning, I did notice that my skin was more radiant, and probably 50% of my flakiness had disappeared. I continued to use the Night Repair Complex for the rest of the week. By the end of the week, my skin was nearly completely back to normal, and it was absolutely glowing.
This product definitely works and I have added it to my skincare regimen, rotating it with the Idealist Skin Refinisher.

Nordstrom's is having a free gift with purchase right now for any Estee Lauder purchase over $39.50. The deal ends November 2nd. If you're looking for skincare products, I recommend purchasing the Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex, the Idealist Skin Refinisher, or one of the Repair sets that go for $46.00-47.50 (they contains both products along with a moisturizer and cleanser).

Just to spell out their gift with purchase:

Get glam with this set of gorgeous glosses, including six shades to wear alone or layered.
SMASHBOX RAPTURE LIP COLLECTION

Lancôme's vibrating brush is a breakthrough sensation in application. Pre-order now.
LANCÔME ÔSCILLATION MASCARA

The Crème de Pistache Duo blends enticing, nutty nuances with fluffy, freshly whipped cream.
LAURA MERCIER BATH & BODY

call 1-800-7-BEAUTY

there are actually three different types and you need to enter in a promotion code to obtain them. I've copied and pasted below the 3 different gifts you can obtain--simply choose which one works for you! Or if you're greedy like me, make 3 separate purchases and get all 3! (Of course, I'm not going to keep everything I've purchased--I'm not a mindless spendthrift!)

PREVENTION—to help protect against future visible signs of aging.
Use promotional code PREVENT on the last page of Checkout.

DayWear Plus Multi Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15
(0.5 oz.)
Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher (0.5 oz.)
Perfectly Clean Splash Away Foaming Cleanser (1 oz.)
Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick (full size)
Pure Color Crystal Gloss
7 Eyeshadows in an exclusive compact
New: Estée Lauder Sensuous Eau de Parfum Spray Vial
(0.05 oz.)
Chic Tri-Color Cosmetics Bag

EVEN SKINTONE—to reveal a radiant, more even-toned look.
Use promotional code SKINTONE on the last page of Checkout.

Hydra Bright Skin-Tone Perfecting Moisturizer (0.5 oz.)
Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex
(0.5 oz.)
Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser (1 oz.)
Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick (full-size)
Pure Color Crystal Gloss
7 Eyeshadows in an exclusive compact
New: Estée Lauder Sensuous Eau de Parfum Spray Vial
(0.05 oz.)
Chic Tri-Color Cosmetics Bag

LIFTING/FIRMING—to give skin a more lifted, firmer look.
Use promotional code LIFTING on the last page of Checkout.

Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Creme SPF 15
(0.5 oz.)
New: Perfectionist [CP+] Wrinkle Lifting Serum (0.5 oz.)
Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser (1 oz.)
Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick (full-size)
Pure Color Crystal Gloss
7 Eyeshadows in an exclusive compact
New: Estée Lauder Sensuous Eau de Parfum Spray Vial
(0.05 oz.)
Chic Tri-Color Cosmetics Bag

Hurry before the deal runs out!

Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher

Being in New England during the Fall can really wreak havoc on your skin.

I have extremely problematic skin. It's combination, so that my t-zone and upper lip area is always breaking out. My nose and the cheek skin winging my nose have HUGE pores. Biore pore strips don't get out all the sebum and blackheads--I have to use one of those metal extractors.

Luckily, my cheeks practically never break out. But they can get extremely dry if I don't moisturize. So having combo skin really sucks because I have to look for two types of products--effective acne/sebum treatments that won't dry me out (painful, flaking skin that also has acne is the worst), and moisturizers that keep me supple without the oiliness.

And well...I think I have found a product that does BOTH!

Enter Estee Lauder's Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher.

The product guarantees: pores will appear 1/3 smaller instantly, there is a 69% reduction in the look of pores in 4 weeks, it repairs the look of uneven skin texture, flakiness, and roughness.

Apparently, the Idealist Skin Refinisher is a revamped version of the former Idealist. The current version includes: 3 times more Glucosamine than original Idealist, has Pore Diminishing Technology significantly shrinks the look of enlarged pores, and contains gentle-acting Chestnut Extract to help free your skin from dry, dulling, flaky skin cells.

(above info taken from website, you can read more there)

When I first pumped out some Idealist, I noticed the product had a very refreshing, light citrus scent...almost like grapefruit. Also, it was extremely silky to the touch and made my face feel instantly softer. I would liken the texture and finish to a waterier, makeup primer. I'm not sure if the product contains silicone, but Idealist could definitely double as a makeup primer. My pores did look instantly smaller and my t-zone was less oily, and my mineral powder went seamlessly over it without any oxidation.

The directions indicate Idealist should be applied every morning to a clean face and throat before your moisturizer. However, I also used Idealist at night before bed. My skin had been very dry, my t-zone was flaking AND breaking out. At night, after cleansing and toning, I would apply this alone, without any moisturizer on top. When I woke up in the morning, my skin looked so radiant and supple I would reapply it before doing my makeup. A week later, all my flakies cleared up, my pores were truly shrinking, and my skin continued to feel more radiant and softer.

I would highly recommend this product to girls with any skin type. It is very versatile and worth every penny. It is somewhat pricey ($46.50 for 1 oz, $73.00 for 1.7 oz, and up) but I suggest you purchase it when Estee Lauder has the bonus gift time. Keep watching Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, the Estee Lauder website itself, and other stores for the free gifts with purchase. I just purchased from Macy's when they had the bonus gift and I received tons of cool freebies. I know it's a lot to spend on skin care, but since our skin is the most important feature of our face, you should think of it as a well-spent investment :)

I will post another Estee Lauder review soon. Keep watching!